NIR Photometric Standard Stars

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Standard star observations are required for NIR photometry. These observations allow the calibration of data acquired into a magnitude or flux scale. Below are links to catalogues of photometric standard stars that can be used with Gemini near-IR imaging instruments. If possible use the UKIRT1 MKO JHKL′M catalogue (Leggett et al. 2003, 2006), as these data are on the same photometric system as the Gemini cameras. The Persson et al. (1998) 2 and Hunt et al. (1998)3 JHK catalogues can also be used, but there will be small (up to 3%, or 10% for the Persson red stars) color terms introduced by the use of a different photometric system. Hunt et al. should be used primarily as a source of brighter standards. See the camera web pages for guides to appropriate calibrator magnitudes.

Detailed Descriptions of Catalogs:

Leggett et al. (2006, MNRAS in press; 2003, MNRAS 345, 144) present J, H, K, L′ and M magnitudes on the Mauna Kea Observatory infrared photometric system. JHK data are presented for 114 stars, including 79 UKIRT faint standards, and 42 Persson standards. Average uncertainty is 0.011 magnitudes, and the stars range in brightness from 10th to 15th magnitude. L′ and M data are given for 46 and 31 stars respectively. The average uncertainty is 0.015 mag for the bright L′ standards and 0.025 mag for the fainter L′ standards, and 0.026 mag for the M standards. The full electronic version of the Leggett et al. L′ M (2003) paper give more information.

Persson et al. (1998, AJ 116, 2475) reported J, H, K and Ks observations 65 faint stars forming a grid of faint near-IR photometric standards. The stars have K magnitudes between 10 and 12 and are measured to a precision of 0.001 magnitudes. A secondary list of 27 red stars suitable for the determination of colour transformations is also presented. Note these red stars will require a large (up to 10%) color correction to get them onto the Gemini MKO photometric system (see discussion in the Leggett et al. JHK (2006) paper). Avoid S705-D which may be variable (Leggett et al. 2006). The full electronic electronic version of the Persson et al. (1998) paper contains finding charts for all sources observed.

The Gemini Observatory is an international collaboration with two identical 8-meter telescopes. The Frederick C. Gillett Gemini Telescope is located on Mauna Kea, Hawai'i (Gemini North) and the other telescope on Cerro Pachón in central Chile (Gemini South); together the twin telescopes provide full coverage over both hemispheres of the sky. The telescopes incorporate technologies that allow large, relatively thin mirrors, under active control, to collect and focus both visible and infrared radiation from space.

The Gemini Observatory provides the astronomical communities in five participant countries with state-of-the-art astronomical facilities that allocate observing time in proportion to each country's contribution. In addition to financial support, each country also contributes significant scientific and technical resources. The national research agencies that form the Gemini partnership include: the US National Science Foundation (NSF), the Canadian National Research Council (NRC), the Argentinean Ministerio de Ciencia, Tecnología e Innovación Productiva, the Brazilian Ministério da Ciência, Tecnologia e Inovação and the Chilean Comisión Nacional de Investigación Cientifica y Tecnológica (CONICYT). The observatory is managed by the Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy, Inc. (AURA) under a cooperative agreement with the NSF. The NSF also serves as the executive agency for the international partnership.